Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency Inc

Programs: Community action head start and early head start: providing preschool services to 793 3-5 year olds, infant/toddler services to 156 children ages birth to three, and expectant mothers at 15 operating centers and 6 family child care homes in marion & polk counties. Our goal is to build on the assets of the family -- from developing a life-long love of learning to meeting the social, medical, and mental health needs of the family. All of our sites strive to provide the richest learning environment possible while creating a structure that is also supportive and welcoming to parents. Through a full spectrum of services, head start promotes the health and well being of the child and family.

energy services program: this program operates liheap (low-income home energy assistance program), oeap (oregon energy assistance program), olga (oregon low-income gas assistance) and other bill payment assistance programs. Energy education is available to help clients reduce their energy consumption and take control of their energy usage. Energy assisted 13,000 households during the fiscal year.

nutrition first: this usda food program provides monthly cash payments to 500 home child care providers to partially reimburse them for the healthy meals and snacks they serve to the 5,700 children in their care. We serve providers in the following counties: marion, polk, yamhill, linn, benton, lane, lincoln, and tillamook. Our tri-lingual staff visit providers in their homes several times each year to provide nutrition information and resources, as well as to verify compliance with all state and federal regulation. We occasionally offer additional workshops throughout the year.

community resource programs provide a variety of services designed to help low-income and homeless persons achieve stable housing and increase their self-sufficiency. Child care information services provides a child care resource and referral program serving parents and child care providers in marion, polk and yamhill counties. The mission of the community action drug prevention network is to reduce the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in youth and adults over time. The home youth and resource center is a combined day shelter and drop-in center for non-adjudicated homeless and at-high-risk youth. The organization also added the hands-on willamette program, which is a volunteer action center for marion, polk and yamill counties. Our team connects volunteers with opportunities with over 200 community partners in our tri-county region. Hands-on provides services that help volunteers discover their passion; prepare agencies to recruit, train, and retain volunteers; and businesses to engage their employees in mutually beneficial community involvement.